After running sales commissions manually through spreadsheets, you’re ready to offload some work by recruiting the help of automation.
Congratulations, you’ve made the right choice.
While we respect the spreadsheet and its loyal fanbase of formula wizards, we also believe in working smarter, not harder. Why calculate and track commissions in a cell when you can leverage the power of technology to take that on for you?
That’s where commission payment software comes in.
With a growing list of sales compensation management platforms and four leaders in the space, where do you begin? To help, we built a thorough comparison list of the most widely adopted and top-performing sales commission platforms.
Read on for a comparison between QuotaPath, Spiff, CaptivateIQ, and Xactly. Want to jump right into QuotaPath and get a feel for yourself? Start a free 30-day trial here.
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Start TrialAll platforms, in a nutshell
To help you get an idea of the best sales commission software, we surfaced what customers and prospects care about most when evaluating which platform to purchase.
Tool accessibility and usability: The ease with which the platform allows you to create compensation plans and make changes or adjustments as you scale.
Forecast earnings/attainment: Executive- and rep-level reporting on existing and forecasted revenue and earning potential tied to pipeline and quota attainment.
ASC-606 Compliant: Ability to schedule, recognize and report commission expenses in compliance with ASC 606 regulations.
Time-to-value: The time it takes for customers from the moment of purchase to realize the value of a sales incentive compensation platform.
Accuracy: Trust in the math and calculations.
Integrations: Data connections that enable direct and real-time data flow from commissions’ source of truth.
Rep accountability: Views that provide clarity into sales compensation, progress toward goals, and when, what, and how commissions are paid.
In-app communication: Collaboration and communication enabled within the commission tracking app to dispute, resolve, and keep records of commission payment discrepancies.
Support: Accessible, reliable, and helpful vendor support.
Pricing: Upfront pricing models, no minimum user limits, and no onboarding, implementation, or professional services fees.
Spiff vs. CaptivateIQ vs. Xactly vs. QuotaPath
| Spiff | CaptivateIQ | Xactly | QuotaPath |
| ❌ Heavy set up | ❌Complex with ongoing maintenance required | ❌ Legacy technology | ✅ Easy to use and update |
| ❌ Professional service fees | ❌ Professional service fees | ❌ Requires heavy uplift to get started | ✅ Transparent and low professional service fees |
| ❌ 1x daily HubSpot refresh | ❌Requires an API to implement HubSpot | ❌ Difficult to maintain | ✅ Native, real-time HubSpot integration |
| ❌ No free trial | ❌ Cost-prohibitive | ❌ Fit for only large enterprises | ✅ Free to try |
| ❌ Long implementation period times | ❌ Not rep-friendly | ✅ Quick to implement | |
| ✅ Dedicated customer success specialist |
Reviews Comparison
To get an objective view of all four platforms, we checked out three independent review sites under the sales compensation software category.
| QuotaPath | Spiff | CaptivateIQ | Xactly | |
| G2 | “Super easy to integrate with Salesforce to pull in all your CRM data. Easy to create plans and paths and duplicate them. Can forecast pipeline and closed deals to see your potential earnings.” | “The onboarding experience is painfully long. We have been trying to get Spiff deployed to the entire org. for over 4 months, and while we have deployed to 2 groups, we still have another 2-4 left.” | “The reporting and exports are VERY cumbersome We were sold on the system giving our sales leadership having better visibility to their orgs, which they do not have….my whole sales leadership says they highly dislike the tool.” | “It is difficult to maintain, difficult to manage in a setting where you are quickly growing and having tons of changes. It feels like it’s a better fit for a large scale enterprise company, rather than smaller companies that make large scale plan changes on a quarterly/semi-annual basis.” |
| Capterra | “ I didn’t realize it, but I can’t live without QuotaPath — It makes it super easy to keep track of things, plus our sales team LOVES the transparency and how easy it is to understand how their commission is setup. Lastly, it helps them to set goals and get motivated by allowing them to experiment with “What If” scenarios.” | “Spiff is perfect to a large extent, but it depends on the size of the user’s knowledge of the platform’s work as required, and access to the smooth handling of all tools requires completing the training period and acquiring the skills needed, and this will not take much time.” | “The plans are not so challenging to implement if you have a financial background, the formulas are pretty similar to the Excel ones, but it’s a bit time-consuming, so you better save a prominent slot in your calendar to complete the implementation.” | “End-user training may require a sizable time investment, as not all features are intuitive. Initial administrator training has a relatively steep learning curve as there are numerous factors (i.e. order of operations) that are required to manually run some processes.” |
| Trust Radius | “QuotaPath is perfect when transitioning from google sheets for early stage companies. Very quick and easy to setup. Very simple to build new comp plans and configure existing ones. They have amazing Customer Service to help with any complexity in your comp plan. Lots of features are constantly being released: | “It is not reliable, what is said can be done has never been the case without a lot of additional tinkering.” | “ I wish it was easier to understand spiffs and special commission considerations. That would make it easier. Not sure where they are applied.” | “When the system works, it is great. But recently we are having so many issues with Xactly and they can’t seem to be able to help an existing customer that has been with Xactly for over 8 years. Really need to start looking for some new company soon.” |
Pricing Comparison
In today’s market, buyers want (and should expect) to be able to find out pricing information without having to jump through hoops and speak to a sales rep or two.
That’s why QuotaPath proudly shares transparent pricing directly on our website.
“Your website should answer almost all the questions a buyer might have, especially pricing,” said QuotaPath CEO and Co-Founder AJ Bruno.
If you visit Spiff’s, CaptivateIQ’s, and Xactly’s websites, you’ll find an absence of actual pricing info on pricing pages or missing pricing sections altogether. However, after some sleuthing, we were able to locate pricing for Spiff, CaptivateIQ, and Xactly for you.
Check out the model below to see how they all compare: Spiff vs CaptivateIQ, CaptivateIQ vs Xactly, Spiff vs Xactly, and QuotaPath vs CaptivateIQ.
| Pricing | Implementation | Support | Integrations | |
| QuotaPath | ✅$40/user/month | ✅ Quick to implement ✅Onboarding time: 2-4 weeks | ✅Free dedicated CSM and AM to assist with onboarding and ongoing support | ✅Best-in-class integrations with SFDC, HubSpot, Close, Quickbooks, Stripe ✅Open API |
| Spiff | $50/user/month $15,000 minimum $95/user analytics add on | $3,000 implementation cost Onboarding time: 6-8 weeks | $100/user for first month of onboarding | Native SFDC, NetSuite, Quickbooks, Stripe, Snowflake integration Gaps in HubSpot integration APIs to connect to other platform |
| CaptivateIQ | $55/user/month $15,000 minimum | $2,500 implementation cost Onboarding time: 8-12 weeks | Added cost for premium support | Native SFDC and NetSuite integration Heavy reliance on APIs or Workato to connect to other platforms |
| Xactly | $60/user/month | Hefty implementation cost Onboarding time: up to 6 months | Ongoing professional service fees | Native SFDC, NetSuite & Microsoft Dynamics integration REST APIs to connect to other platforms |
Which is the best platform?
The best sales commission software will largely depend on the size of your company, commission’s source of truth, and preference for setup.
For instance, scaling small to medium-sized tech companies will find the most value with a solution like QuotaPath’s. That’s because QuotaPath’s fast time to value (onboarding and implementations within 6 weeks), no minimum user limit, and guidance on compensation plan design are invaluable for fast-changing teams that need a helping hand in aligning their compensation strategies to their business goals.
Those who run deals and earnings info through HubSpot, Salesforce, Copper, Pipedrive, Zoho, and Google Sheets, as well as invoicing systems such as Quickbooks, Maxio, and Stripe, will also benefit from QuotaPath’s 3-step data syncs and real-time updates.
Meanwhile, large enterprises are a better fit for Spiff, CaptivateIQ, or Xactly. Plus, those platforms prefer that based on their minimum user requirements and lengthy implementation periods dedicated to carefully setting up large accounts.
Create Compensation Plans with confidence
RevOps, sales leaders, and finance teams use our free tool to ensure reps’ on-target earnings and quotas line up with industry standards. Customize plans with accelerators, bonuses, and more, by adjusting 9 variables.
Build a Comp PlanPros of QuotaPath over Spiff, CaptivateIQ, and Xactly
Incentive compensation management software come in all shapes and sizes.
What sets QuotaPath apart from the rest is our team, our solution’s ability to foster accountability and ownership over company-wide financial goals, and streamlined workflows that build operational efficiencies in your compensation management processes.
Plus, we are the only commission tool with a free trial.
The Team
Sales compensation is nuanced.
Having a partner with a trusted commission management solution and a team that knows the ins and outs of comp design can play a critical role in rallying your team around your financial targets.
QuotaPath’s team has evaluated thousands of sales comp plans. We share our knowledge with our communities and customers and act as advisors to steer teams toward simple, logical, and fair incentive structures.
We listen, understand, and empathize. Whether you’re in the front of the house, or the back of the house we’re here to help.
Our Customer Success team is the fastest in the biz, with less than 90-second response times. Our Account Managers ensure even your most complex comp plans run smoothly and accurately, and our Product team has their eyes and ears locked in on the customer to ensure our platform is evolving with your needs.
Accountability and ownership
Department-wide understanding and alignment over your financial targets are paramount to the success of your business.
By collaborating with QuotaPath, you gain an advisor to align your compensation plans directly to your business metrics, such as annual recurring revenue (ARR), gross revenue retention (GRR), net revenue retention (NRR), etc.
When everyone knows what they’re working toward and how their efforts impact the bottom line, you’re setting your team and organization up for success.
Pair that with the commission tool itself, and you give all stakeholders visibility into real-time progress toward those goals as well as forecasted earnings and revenue. Account managers now have access to see how their most recent renewal improved GRR and how much they can expect to get paid on it.
What follows is accountability and ownership from the top down over progress and earnings.
Operational efficiencies
We surveyed Finance, RevOps, and Sales leaders about their compensation management, and the biggest challenge they reported with their processes was that their sales comp models were too hard to execute and too time-consuming.
QuotaPath creates operational efficiencies from comp plan design through commission payments.
“When you scale a team, comp structures start to contain different elements,” said Katie Cooper, Muck Rack, Senior Business Manager, Business and Data Operations. “QuotaPath offers the ability to take what you have in the system and build on it so that when you have a slightly tweaked plan or a new teammate, you can build a new plan and assign accordingly in three minutes versus an hour.”
By streamlining workflows from the moment you sign up for a free 30-day trial to hosting in-app communication to raise commission questions and resolve disputes, and by surfacing the most important commission-related tasks to those who run payouts, we’re making it easier to own, stay on top of, and run commissions.
Need to get rep sign-off on a comp plan change? Use Plan Verification in QuotaPath to distribute new commission policies and collect rep sign-off.
Katie, for example, used to spend 2 to 3 hours manually sending mail-merged compensation and goal emails to every rep. Now, it takes 10 minutes.
Free app experience
When in doubt, don’t take our word for it. Play in the app yourself by signing up for a free trial.
As the only commission tool with a free trial experience, QuotPath gives you the chance to integrate your CRM, map your existing comp plan, or test your current pipeline’s data with one of our customizable templates, and invite team members to your QuotaPath workspace.
What’s more, you can even run commission payouts.
All for free and without having to enter credit card information.
With QuotaPath:
- Provide reps and leadership with immediate insights into forecasted revenue
- Monitor team-wide performance
- Pull up ARR in realtime
- Quickly design and build compensation plans within the platform
- Be ASC 606-compliant with commissions recognition and reporting
- Incentivize your reps
- Integrate your CRM
To learn more, chat with one of our teammates today.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Spiff and what are its alternatives?
is a commission management software designed to automate and simplify the calculation and tracking of sales commissions. It integrates with CRMs, ERPs, and other financial systems to provide real-time visibility, ensuring accuracy and transparency for both sales teams and finance departments. Spiff is particularly popular among organizations that need a scalable, flexible solution for managing complex commission structures.
Alternatives to Spiff
Here are some notable alternatives to Spiff, often used for commission management and incentive tracking:
- QuotaPath
- Focused on sales commission tracking and forecasting, QuotaPath offers a user-friendly interface, seamless CRM integrations (like HubSpot and Salesforce), and features that tie commissions to pipeline performance.
- CaptivateIQ
- A platform that combines automated commission calculations with spreadsheet-like customization, ideal for companies with complex or unique compensation plans.
- Xactly
- A robust solution for incentive compensation management (ICM), offering features for automation, analytics, and compliance, catering to larger enterprises.
- Performio
- Designed for sales performance management, Performio provides insights, commission tracking, and customizable workflows for mid-sized to large organizations.
- Everstage
- A platform focusing on transparency and user experience, providing commission tracking and analytics for sales teams.
What is Xactly and what are its alternatives?
Xactly is a provider of cloud-based sales performance management (SPM) solutions, offering tools for incentive compensation management, revenue forecasting, and sales planning.
Alternatives to Xactly:
When considering alternatives to Xactly, several platforms offer comparable features in sales performance and incentive compensation management:
- CaptivateIQ: A flexible platform that combines automated commission calculations with spreadsheet-like customization, ideal for companies with complex or unique compensation plans.
- Varicent: Provides tools and information for sales reps, ensuring accuracy and efficiency. Managers and administrators can take control of their operations, eliminate surprises, and make better strategic choices for their variable incentive programs.
- Performio: Designed for sales performance management, Performio provides real-time insights, commission tracking, and customizable workflows for mid-sized to large organizations.
- QuotaPath: Focused on sales commission tracking and forecasting, QuotaPath offers a user-friendly interface, seamless CRM integrations (like HubSpot and Salesforce), and features that tie commissions to pipeline performance and forecasting.
- Everstage: A platform focusing on transparency and user experience, providing commission tracking and analytics for sales teams.
When evaluating these alternatives, consider factors such as the complexity of your compensation plans, integration capabilities with existing systems, scalability, user experience, and pricing to determine the best fit for your organization’s needs.
What is CaptivateIQ and what are its alternatives?
CaptivateIQ is a platform designed to automate and manage sales commission processes similar to spreadsheets. The platform integrates with various data sources, providing visibility into sales performance and ensuring compliance with industry standards.
Alternatives to CaptivateIQ:
When considering alternatives to CaptivateIQ, several platforms offer comparable features in sales performance and incentive compensation management:
- Xactly: A cloud-based solution for incentive compensation management, Xactly helps customers’ ICM processes with easy administration, advanced automation, and clear data visualizations.
- Varicent: Provides tools and information for sales reps. Managers and administrators can take control of their operations, eliminate surprises, and make strategic choices for their variable incentive programs.
- Spiff: A platform that improves quality and provides reps with personalized, commission portals.
- Performio: Designed for sales performance management, Performio provides insights, commission tracking, and customizable workflows for mid-sized to large organizations.
- QuotaPath: Helps sales teams measure and model performance and commissions costs, track commissions, and increase earnings, with onboarding taking minutes, not months, to close more deals
